How are ratings tracked?

[ripple]

I want to check out the mock-u-drama to see the fabrication for myself, but at the same time, I don't want to boost ABC's ratings in any way, shape, or form. Does anyone know if ratings are based solely on the Nielson survey, or is viewership tracked through cable and satellite (I have Dish Network), as well?

[Writer]

1. You must be a Nielsen household with the proper Nielsen...

equipment attached to your television. You can either have a regular HH meter or a people meter in which you enter your age, gender, etc.

You cannot affect the ratings merely by watching the program - even if you have digital cable or satellite.

[ripple]

2. Thanks for the info! -nt

[misternormal]

4. In smaller markets...

... they still use a journal... each ratings period households are chosen and they write their TV watching habits down in the journal and it's turned in.

That's the way it is here in Market 102.

[ripple]

6. I did that a couple of years ago.

They even paid me a small sum- $10, I believe. It was tedious, but it was cool to feel like my viewing habits might influence future programming.

[Writer]

11. Correct. But we're not in a diary month at the moment.

Especially for a market your size.

[FloridaPat]

3. Sometimes they call during the show. Haven't had one of those in

years.

[karlrschneider]

5. Dish Network HAS the ability to report & track what you watch.

I don't know IF they do it but it's very easy for them. (My partner is a Dish installer and I'm pretty up to date on this stuff)

[ripple]

9. I'm surprised that they WOULDN'T use such technology

to get a true read on ratings, especially with the new law requiring all TV to be digital or whatever. I have some reservations from a privacy standpoint, but from the television industry's perspective, I would think they would want the most accurate information possible.

[karlrschneider]

10. Oh, I agree absolutely! I just don't have any knowledge that they DO

but of course you're right...hell, even grocery stores keep tabs on their customers' buying habits.

[Justice Is Comin]

7. Anyone other than an officially selected

Nielsen family with the set top meter in their home is not refelected. Nielsen is the gold standard. They are purchasing data from the satellite companies, TIVO and the digital cable box companies because they do not have the capability to measure "time shifting" with their in home meters.

However, they are only used to a minimal degree to supplement their in-home meters. Nielsen is promising a complete update of methods within the next five years to include boxes that will monitor DVR use recording, wireless, broadband, internet--even bluetooth.

But for now the advertisers are happy with the data Nielsen provides because it shows in-home set use, tuned to what channel and who is watching. Each individual presses a button which indicates which member of the family is watching what. With less variables from all the other sources until they can all be technologically coordinated by Nielsen, there is less margin for error.

The written diaries are for the small population markets but would not be relative now because this is not a sweeps month. The next one is November.

The Nielsen box people can devastate Disney and ABC.

[Pryderi]

8. I'm blocking ABC, ESPN, Disney Channel and ESPN2 on my Satellite